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Marlins spurred by big challenge win to beat Dodgers

5/4/14: The Marlins challenge the safe call at second base and after review, the call is overturned and ruled to be an out in the 9th inning

By Joe Frisaro
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MLB.com |

MIAMI -- Home field has been a distinct advantage for the Marlins all season. So has instant replay.

Manager Mike Redmond improved his success rate to six of seven on replay challenges, and the overturn on Sunday afternoon proved crucial in Miami's 5-4 win over the Dodgers at Marlins Park.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Dodgers rallied to tie the game at 4 off A.J. Ramos. They threatened to take the lead, but Miami shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria made a terrific diving stop on Hanley Ramirez's grounder up the middle.

Andre Ethier, whose RBI double tied the game, was on second and Yasiel Puig, who was intentionally walked, was on first.

Hechavarria knocked the ball down, but was able to make a flip to Jeff Baker at second. Puig slid in hard as Baker caught the flip on the close play. Second-base umpire Dale Scott ruled safe.

Redmond challenged, and after a review of 1-minute, 46-seconds, the call was overturned for the second out.

"I thought he was out right away," Baker said. "I wasn't sure if something happened. Obviously, my back is to the play, I wasn't sure if somehow he snuck in there early. From feeling it, obviously, Puig didn't really slide into the base. He slid into the top of my ankle. Just from what I felt with him, I knew I already had the ball.

"I wasn't sure if something else happened. But just from the pure timing of the play, I thought he was out."

Had Puig been safe, the Dodgers would have had the bases loaded and one out in a tie game. Instead, it was two outs and runners on the corners. Ramos retired Adrian Gonzalez on a grounder to second for the final out.

The Marlins ended up celebrating a walk-off win in the ninth inning on Baker's RBI double, which scored Hechavarria.

"That was a big play for Hech to even get to that ball and flip it to Bake," Redmond said. "It looked close to me and definitely was a big play. It was at a point in the game where I was going to go out there either way. It ended up being a huge out."

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.